By Our Correspondent
The Indigenous Contractors Forum operating with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has urged the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to implement the law establishing DESOPADEC as well pay the outstanding debts owed the contractors for the past two years.
In a peaceful protest to the Governor’s Office in Asaba, led by Comrade Francis Obule, the chairman of the Forum and Prince Maikpobi Okareme, patron to the Forum, they unanimously stated that Delta State government should make payment for completed projects and fully implement the law establishing DESOPADEC.
Un-behalf of the Forum, Comrade Obule said that the protest became necessary following recent actions by banks which retrieved their property used as collateral for the loans obtained.
Comrade Obule lamented that for the past two years, they have not received payment for projects they executed and called on the state government to intervene and make payment as soon as possible, adding that the state government has not make money available to pay contractors this year.
“We demand for adequate funding of the Commission. We demand for payment of completed/ongoing projects. We insist that 2015/2016 budget should be used to pay completed/ongoing projects executed. As at today, the Commission owes her contractors up to the tune of about N11 billion (Eleven Billion Naira) this amount be released forthwith” he added.
Responding to their complaints, the acting governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro said that government was not unaware of the plights of unpaid DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors and would soon hold private meeting with them and the Commission toward making some payments.
He appealed to the contractors to be patient, assuring that Government would give attention to their complaints and do the needful.
Addressing the Indigenous Contractors at the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) the Speaker of the Delta Speaker House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori said that they are aware of the plight of unpaid contractors in the State.
Hon. Oborevwori stated that the effect of dwindling resources on the government had resulted in its inability to offset the backlog of debts owed contractors, adding that as things get better the issue would be given priority attention.
“We have listened to your complaints. Your coming will spur us to ensure timely intervention. Once things get better, your interest will be given priority. Certainly, we won’t forget you”.
